(a) The Chief Election Officer shall establish an absentee polling place. The absentee polling place shall be open before election day to handle the absentee voters who are voting in person. The Chief Election Officer shall determine the number of officials needed. All absentee polling places established to handle absentee qualified electors who are voting in person shall be closed at 4:30 p.m. the day before the election.

(b) The Chief Election Officer may appoint election officials to handle absentee voting in person, for those persons entitled to vote under 6.1101(c)(2) and (3), at the absentee polling place. Election officials may also be appointed to handle absentee voting in person other than at the absentee polling place for those qualified electors who demonstrate that it would be a hardship to require them to appear at the absentee polling place.